The journey of transforming a global problem into sustainable innovation.
In 2018, when Marios and Alex were still Chemical Engineering students, they came face-to-face with a reality they could no longer ignore: 95% of the coffee cherry ends up as waste.
But behind that realization, they didn’t just see an environmental problem.
They saw an opportunity.
Drawing on their scientific background and growing expertise, they began analyzing spent coffee grounds. The results were striking: high levels of antioxidants, polyphenols, and naturally active compounds with exceptional benefits for the skin.
One question emerged:
Can we give a second life to something the world considers useless?
A range of natural, science-backed innovations created from upcycled coffee.
The first coffee grounds were collected from local cafés. The first prototypes were developed in our own facilities in Patras. And the first extracts and materials we created successfully passed rigorous quality assessments and laboratory testing, demonstrating their potential across multiple applications—from skincare actives to biobased materials and cleaning solutions.
Today, Coffeeco has evolved into an integrated circular-economy company, continuously developing new products and technologies with the same sense of responsibility and innovation that sparked our journey.
Our vision is to redefine the way the world thinks about waste by unlocking the hidden value inside everyday materials. At Coffeeco, we believe that coffee — one of the most consumed products globally — can power a new generation of sustainable innovations. By transforming spent coffee grounds into high-value ingredients, materials, and products, we aim to build a circular economy where resources are never lost, only reborn. Our goal is simple yet ambitious: to create a future in which upcycling becomes the norm, sustainability becomes effortless, and every cup of coffee contributes to a cleaner, more regenerative planet.
Stavros Niarchos Foundation “ARCHERS” partly funds Alexis’ thesis on agro-industrial waste.
“Entrepreneurship School Patras,” organized by the European Think Young. Alexis and Marios both involved in processing coffee remains, meet, and join forces.
“Athens Center of Entrepreneurship and Innovation” sponsored by Nestle. 3rd place.
ΕIT JUMP STARTER, “European Innovation Technology” 3rd place, for the active ingredient as a startup food innovation.
Cosmetics commercial applications. Initiated with national and international companies.
“Entrepreneurship School Patras,” organized by the European Think Young. Alexis and Marios both involved in processing coffee remains, meet, and join forces.
V-label award Finalist. Best Innovative B2B ingredient.
Developed coffee derived organic fiber for new polypropylene bio-based plastics compound.
Auraskin. Launched own skincare brand.
Coffee Island No1 Greek coffee chain and 7th largest European, becomes shareholder and strategic investor.
Plastika Kritis, No 1 plastics manufacturer in Greece. Launched Partnership and Supply of coffee organic fiber raw material.
Papoutsanis No 1 Greek cosmetics manufacturer. Launched “UpC” hotel amenities product line “powered by Coffeeco.” An upcycled combination of skincare content and bio based plastic container.
Auraskin. Launched international market.
Green Alley Awards. Top 20 EU green company.
Cosmoprof-Bologna, Cosmotalk. Selected as guest speaker “Green Ingredients Trends and Opportunities.”
Haut Kos. Launched own skincare brand.
Cosmoprof-Bologna and InCosmetics Global Paris. Exhibition Participation.
Launched finished bio-based 70-liter plastic bin.
World Of Coffee Copenhagen Selected as Guest Speaker “Green Coffee Connect”
Stavros Niarchos Foundation “ARCHERS” partly funds Alexis’ thesis on agro-industrial waste.
“Athens Center of Entrepreneurship and Innovation” sponsored by Nestle. 3rd place.
Cosmetics commercial applications. Initiated with national and international companies.
V-label award Finalist. Best Innovative B2B ingredient.
Auraskin. Launched own skincare brand.
Plastika Kritis, No 1 plastics manufacturer in Greece. Launched Partnership and Supply of coffee organic fiber raw material.
Auraskin. Launched international market.
Cosmoprof-Bologna, Cosmotalk. Selected as guest speaker “Green Ingredients Trends and Opportunities.”
Cosmoprof-Bologna and InCosmetics Global Paris. Exhibition Participation.
World Of Coffee Copenhagen Selected as Guest Speaker “Green Coffee Connect”
“Entrepreneurship School Patras,” organized by the European Think Young. Alexis and Marios both involved in processing coffee remains, meet, and join forces.
ΕIT JUMP STARTER, “European Innovation Technology” 3rd place, for the active ingredient as a startup food innovation.
“Entrepreneurship School Patras,” organized by the European Think Young. Alexis and Marios both involved in processing coffee remains, meet, and join forces.
Developed coffee derived organic fiber for new polypropylene bio-based plastics compound.
Coffee Island No1 Greek coffee chain and 7th largest European, becomes shareholder and strategic investor.
Papoutsanis No 1 Greek cosmetics manufacturer. Launched “UpC” hotel amenities product line “powered by Coffeeco.” An upcycled combination of skincare content and bio based plastic container.
Green Alley Awards. Top 20 EU green company.
Haut Kos. Launched own skincare brand.
Launched finished bio-based 70-liter plastic bin.
In 2018, when Marios and I were still Chemical Engineering students, we became fixated on an unsettling truth: 95% of the coffee fruit was wasted after the production of espresso. For years, this staggering inefficiency was overlooked, buried under the relentless wave of overconsumption. No one was tackling the core issue, and the industry seemed content with the status quo. But we saw an opportunity—an opportunity to transform this waste into something valuable, something that could benefit both the environment and society. We set out on a mission to turn coffee remains into active ingredients for cosmetic skincare products and bio-based plastics, advocating for a sustainable production model driven by long-term development and environmental responsibility.
Fast forward to today, and the timing could not be more perfect. The recent UNIDO report (*) on the launch of a global platform for coffee industry players to transform 40 million tons of biowaste into business is a game-changer. The market may not be ready yet but is demanding the transformation of the espresso supply chain from linear to circular. This initiative resonates deeply with our vision at Coffeeco. It reinforces our belief that “sustainability” and “circular economy” are not mere buzzwords, but essential principles for our prosperity, the well-being of our children, and the health of our planet. We are at the forefront of this change, turning what was once waste into valuable resources, and driving a significant impact in the industry.
Thank you for being part of the Coffeeco community. Your support is our driving force as we continue to innovate, create, and push the boundaries of what is possible. Together, we are building a future where business success and environmental stewardship go hand in hand.
